History


Baldock Town Youth F.C. was founded in 1988 when Paul Kitchener and Roy Ryall formed an under-13 side, assisted by a young player called Barry Rainbow who pulled together a group of his friends from the local school to make the team. Paul was the club's treasurer for many years from the club's inception and Barry later managed one of the club’s teams for a number of years.

Early on-field highlights include Roy Ryall's under-16 team winning the Royston League Cup in 1991 and Bernard Bibby's under 18's winning the Bedford Colts League in 1995.

In the summer of 1994, the decision was made to run teams from under-10 upwards. At the start of the 96/97 season our policy was updated and 7 and 8 year old boys were invited to join Baldock Knights, under the watchful eye of Mr. John Harper.

In the 97/98 season the Under 10 Templars won the Royston Crow League Cup and went on to reach the semi final of the East Anglia Youth Cup.

1998 saw the introduction of mini soccer for the under 8's and under 9’s.

The 98/99 season saw more success on the field with the Under 16's winning Division One and five teams finishing in second place in their respective divisions. The Under 10 Templars earned themselves a first division spot for the coming season and the Under 11 Templars were runners up in the first division. The Under 15's also won promotion to the top flight. The Under 12 Templars and the Under 14 Templars achieved promotion to Division Two.

In September 1999 the under l0's started playing the mini soccer 7-a-side game rather than 11 a side football as the FA looked to improve the technical ability of our young players.

In 2000 our under 17s won the league and cup double. A feat also achieved by our U12s. A year later they won the under 13 Anglia Cup and retained the League Cup. The following season at U14, with Brian “Percy” Davies in charge, they retained the league cup.

Meanwhile in 2002 Tony Simmons was putting together a team that would go on to win the league title in 2002 (as under 10s), 2003, 2004 (league and cup double) and 2005 and then the league cup again in 2006 at under 14s. A major achievement to win 6 trophies in 5 seasons, and our most successful team to date.

2002 also saw former player and manager Barry Rainbow start a senior side as an outlet for youth team players once they reached the age of 18. The link with the Baldock Town Senior Club has continued with under 21 and “A” teams running each season since then to provide an outlet for our players. That year saw the club entering the electronic era with the setting up of our first web site. In 2002-3 the Club first attained FA Charter Standard status.

2003-04 saw the club run set up its first girls’ team, at under 12. Run by Donna Anderson and Colin Little, this team would later form Baldock Town Ladies FC and would still be going strong nearly ten years later.

2005-06 was an amazing year with over 500 players registered with the club. It also saw the introduction of a new club badge, in English not Latin!

After many years the club finally secured a decent training facility with the building of the All Weather Pitch at Knights Templar, ready for the 2007-08 season.

2006 saw Phil Mills finally retire after 7 years as the club’s longest serving chairman. This was followed in 2009 by the retirement of the club’s longest serving committee members, Secretary Doug Neath and Treasurer Roger Tester, after over 10 years service.

2007 saw John Harris’ under 10 side win the mini soccer league title. The following year they would complete the league and cup double at 11 a side.

2011 saw the club finally find it long cherished ambition of a proper “home” in Baldock, joining the bowls, cricket and netball clubs at Avenue Park Sports and Social Club, thanks to the efforts of treasurer Dale Dewing.

That year also saw Clive Laing and Carl Kirkhams’ team win the league and cup double at under 17. A trophy they would retain at under 18s in 2012.

2013 saw the club celebrate its 25th anniversary. Dale Dewing’s U13’s won the Royston Crow League and Adie Hill’s U16’s won the Mid Herts Rural Minors Premier League Cup. To round off a successful anniversary U12s, U13s and Under 18s all reached cup finals and the U16’s and U18’s were league runners up.

Club Officers since 1998:

Chairmen: Ray Chilstone, Fred Grange, Bernard Bibby, Bob Gentle, Phil Mills, Garry Blyth, Paul Clark, David Nicholson

Club Secretaries: Paul Kitchener, Derek Gates, Doug Neath, Donna Anderson

Treasurers: Paul Kitchener, Roger Tester, Dale Dewing.